Classical Greece
Greece
Eight days on the Greek mainland with the logistics already decided: Athens and the Acropolis, the Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and the clifftop monasteries of Meteora, with a Tour Director handling the hotels, the coach and the guided entries. It is a classic escorted tour — earlier mornings, a fair amount of walking on ancient stone, evenings mostly free — priced per person, land-only, round-trip from Athens.
From $2,749 pp
Per person, two sharing · land only — flights from home not included · 8 days
- Meals
- 7 breakfasts, 4 dinners
- Operator
- Globus / Cosmos
Or call / text 954-698-4438
Itinerary, hotels and inclusions checked against Globus / Cosmos's own page on Sep 3, 2026. Dates and prices are read live from the operator's feed.
Our take
This is the tour we point first-time Greece travelers to when the sites matter more than the beaches. You see six UNESCO World Heritage sites in eight days without renting a car, choosing a single hotel, or figuring out entry tickets, and the two Local Favorites — the tzatziki demonstration and the sirtaki lesson — are the evenings people talk about afterward. The trade-off is pace: three long coach days and a lot of steps on ancient stone.
Highlights
- Six UNESCO World Heritage sites in eight days: the Acropolis, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora
- Globus "Local Favorites" built in: a tzatziki cooking demonstration in Olympia and a sirtaki dance lesson with ouzo in Delphi
- 7 nights in First-Class hotels, 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners included, coach travel between cities, Tour Director throughout
- Round-trip from Athens: welcome drink at 6 pm on Day 1, ends after breakfast on Day 8
- 2026 season ends with three late-September departures; 2027 runs April to October from $2,629 per person, land only
Who this trip suits
- First-timers to Greece who want the mainland's headline sites in one trip
- Couples and friends who would rather have hotels, drivers and guides settled than research them
- Travelers comfortable with two to three hours of walking a day on uneven ground
- History-minded travelers — Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora are the reason this route exists
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone whose Greece means Santorini or Mykonos — there are no islands on this itinerary (see the extensions instead)
- Travelers who rely on a wheelchair or find stairs and slopes difficult — Globus flags the terrain itself
- Families with young children — it is an adult-paced history tour with no kids' programming
- People who dislike coach days — Days 3, 5, 6 and 7 are on the road for several hours each
Day by day
Globus / Cosmos's published itinerary, checked Sep 3, 2026
1Welcome to AthensArrive in Athens
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
No meals included
2Marvels & MythsAthensBreakfast
Wake up in Athens for the start of your Greek Odyssey. Guided sightseeing is composed of an orientation drive to see Athens' main landmarks, including Syntagma Square, the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium, plus a visit to the iconic Acropolis. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening to explore more.
Highlight · Explore the heart of Ancient Greece, where 5th-century BC landmarks including the Acropolis never fail to amaze. See the Panathenaic Stadium, one of the venues of the first modern Olympic Games.
Meals: Breakfast
3Greek History & HeroesAthens – Corinth – Mycenae – Epidaurus – NaupliaBreakfastDinner
Leave Athens and drive to Corinth, stop to take photos of the Corinth Canal, then join a guided walking tour of the ancient city. Continue to Mycenae — according to legend, its city walls were built by Cyclopes. Free time for lunch before a guided tour of the excavations and museum. Reach Epidaurus for a guided visit to the 2,300-year-old open-air auditorium. This evening, arrive at the seaside town of Nauplia.
Highlight · The outdoor auditorium of Epidaurus combines perfect mathematic proportion with excellent acoustics. It was dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing, and used for the healing of patients from all over Greece.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · 132 mi / 212 km
4Ruins & RecipesNauplia – OlympiaBreakfastDinner
Take a scenic drive across the Arkadian Mountains of the Peloponnese to reach Olympia, dedicated to Zeus and birthplace of the Olympic Games. Join a guided walking tour of the archaeological site and visit the museum. This evening, attend a cooking demonstration to learn how to make traditional Greek tzatziki.
Local favorite · Dip into the tradition of Greek tzatziki — yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, lemon and herbs such as dill and mint — and learn how to make it.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · 112 mi / 181 km
5Digs & DancesOlympia – Patras – DelphiBreakfastDinner
Depart Olympia, drive by the seaport of Patras and cross the Rion-Antirion bridge. Journey along the coast to Delphi, considered by the ancient Greeks to be the center of the world, where the oracles of Apollo predicted the fate of many a man. Take a guided walking tour of the excavations and Archaeological Museum. This evening, learn to dance the sirtaki while sipping a glass of ouzo.
Local favorite · Dance in the steps of Zorba the Greek and learn the sirtaki, with a glass of ouzo, the anise-infused spirit the locals are so fond of.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · 149 mi / 239 km
6Monasteries in Magical GreeceDelphi – Meteora areaBreakfastDinner
Drive north past Lamia and Trikala to reach Meteora, which translates as "suspended in the air." Enjoy a guided visit to the Monastery of St. Stephen and the Holy Monastery of Varlaam, perched atop the vertical rock formations of this UNESCO-listed area.
Highlight · Six of the Meteora monasteries are still active. Varlaam and St. Stephen's sit on massive sandstone cliffs with views from above — a setting unlike any other.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · 155 mi / 249 km
7Grecian Battles & BeautyMeteora area – Thermopylae – AthensBreakfast
A scenic drive this morning. Stop at Thermopylae, learn about the famous battle and see the statue of the Spartan King Leonidas. Continue to Athens for a leisurely afternoon and evening.
Highlight · The Battle of Thermopylae — the doomed stand of the Spartans against the Persian army in 480 BC, dramatized in the film "300" — endures as a symbol of bravery and sacrifice.
Meals: Breakfast · 236 mi / 380 km
8Safe travels until we meet againAthensBreakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals: Breakfast
Where you stay
Hotels as listed by Globus / Cosmos, “as shown or similar.” Tap a hotel name to see it on Google Maps.
Athens (nights 1–2 and 7)
ZafoliaFirst-Class
Seven-story hotel near the museums, 1 km from Larisis station.
or Stanley Hotel (Superior First-Class)
Nauplia (night 3)
Amalia NaupliaFirst-Class
Neoclassical-style hotel on tree-lined grounds with landscaped courtyards, a mile from the center.
Olympia (night 4)
EuropaFirst-Class
On top of Drouvas Hill in Ancient Olympia, above the site of the ancient Games.
or Amalia Olympia (First-Class)
Delphi (night 5)
Amalia DelphiFirst-Class
At the foot of Mount Parnassus overlooking olive groves, minutes from the archaeological site.
Meteora area (night 6)
Amalia KalambakaFirst-Class
Set on 14 acres of greenery minutes from the town of Kalambaka, built with traditional materials.
What's included
- Tour Director for the whole trip, plus Local Guides at the major sites
- 7 nights in First-Class hotels as listed below ("as shown or similar")
- 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners, including a welcome drink on Day 1
- Coach travel between Athens, Nauplia, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora, with luggage handled hotel to hotel
- Guided sightseeing in Athens with an orientation drive and a visit to the Acropolis
- Visit to ancient Corinth and a stop at the Corinth Canal
- Guided visits to the excavations and museums at Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia and Delphi
- Guided visit to the monasteries of Varlaam and St Stephen's in Meteora
- Stop at the site of the Battle of Thermopylae
- Tzatziki cooking demonstration and a sirtaki dance lesson with a glass of ouzo
What's not included
- International airfare — the price is land-only from Athens; we quote flights from South Florida with your dates
- Airport transfers in Athens (Globus can add them when air is booked through them)
- 7 lunches and 3 dinners, plus drinks with meals
- Gratuities for the Tour Director, driver and Local Guides (Globus offers a prepaid option for the first two)
- Optional excursions, bookable from 90 days before departure
- Travel protection — recommended, and we will price it alongside the tour
- Single supplement for solo travelers — quoted on request
The real cost of this trip
The “from” price is the operator's land-only rate. This is what sits on top of it, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
| Flights from South Florida to Athens | Not included. We price them with your dates; flying in a day early is worth it for the 6 pm Day 1 meet-up. |
| Athens airport transfers | Not included on the standard tour. Globus adds them when air is booked through them; otherwise a taxi or pre-booked car. |
| Meals not covered | 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners are in. Budget for 7 lunches and 3 dinners, plus drinks. |
| Gratuities | Tour Director, driver and Local Guide tips are extra. Globus offers a prepaid option for the Tour Director and driver. |
| Optional excursions | Offered from 90 days before departure and on tour. Not required to enjoy the itinerary. |
| Travel protection | Not included. We recommend it for a trip at this price point and quote it with the tour. |
| Solo travelers | A single supplement applies. We quote it per departure. |
Good to know
- Walking
- Globus's own note: this tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
- Coach days
- Three of the eight days include 112 to 236 miles of driving, broken up by stops. Days 1, 2 and 8 are in Athens.
- Group size
- Standard departures travel by full-size coach. Departures marked Small Group on the dates table are Globus Small Group Discoveries, capped at a smaller group and priced higher.
- Price basis
- Per person, based on two sharing a room, land only from Athens — flights from home not included. Hotels are as listed or similar.
- Islands
- This itinerary is all mainland. Globus runs five variations that add a 3-, 4- or 7-night Aegean cruise or an island stay (12 to 16 days) — ask us to compare.
Group minimums
Group rates and amenities unlock at these tiers. Negotiated through Travel Connects' supplier relationships.
| Tier | What you get |
|---|---|
| 8+ guests | Group pricing starts here — Globus quotes group rates from 8 travelers. Ask us for a group quote. |
| 20+ guests | Custom itinerary available — Globus can build a tailor-made version of this tour. |
Gallery
Questions we get about this trip
Is airfare included?
No. Every Globus price on this page is land-only from Athens. We quote flights from Fort Lauderdale or Miami with your dates, and Globus can add airport transfers when the air is on their booking.
How much walking is there, really?
Enough that Globus prints a warning. The Acropolis, Mycenae, Delphi and the Meteora monasteries all involve steps and slopes on old stone. If that is a concern, tell us before you commit and we will talk it through rather than hope for the best.
Can we add the Greek islands?
Yes. Globus runs five variations of this tour with a 3-, 4- or 7-night Aegean cruise or an island-hopping extension, 12 to 16 days in total. Ask us to compare them against booking the islands separately.
Which dates are cheapest?
Prices vary by departure — the dates table on this page is read from Globus's own feed, so what you see is current. Spring and early-summer 2027 departures have been the lower-priced ones; the Small Group departures cost more.
What if we need to cancel?
Globus's published terms apply and the fee schedule depends on the departure and whether air is booked through them. We link the terms rather than restate them, and we walk you through the exact figures on your reservation before you pay a deposit.
Cancellation policy
Globus' published Travel Terms & Conditions apply. Deposit amounts, final payment dates and the cancellation fee schedule vary by product and departure date, and differ again for air booked through Globus; the exact figures are confirmed on your reservation. Full terms: globusjourneys.com/terms
